Tire inflation assistance monitoring system

ABSTRACT

A vehicular tire inflation monitoring system is provided for a vehicle that includes at least one tire inflation indicator assembly, visible exterior of the vehicle, positioned at an exterior vehicle portion, such as at an exterior rearview mirror assembly. The at least one tire inflation indicator assembly provides an indication of the inflation condition of at least one of the vehicle tires. The tire inflation monitoring system includes a control receiving at least one input from at least one tire pressure sensor sensing pressure of at least one vehicle tire. The control produces an output to illuminate the at least one tire inflation indicator assembly.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. Pat. application, Ser.No. 09/876,816, filed Jun. 7, 2001 by Schofield et al. for TIREINFLATION ASSISTANCE MONITORING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,472,979,which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. application. Ser. No. 09/513,941,filed Feb. 28, 2000 by Schofield et al. for TIRE INFLATION ASSISTANCEMONITORING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,294,989, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 09/213,075,filed Dec. 16, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,124,647, which are herebyincorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to vehicular function monitoring anddisplay systems. More particularly, the invention is related to a systemfor assisting the manual inflating of tires while mounted on the wheelsof a vehicle. Most particularly, this invention is related to a systemfor assisting the manual inflating of tires of the vehicle that includesan indicator assembly positioned on an exterior vehicle portion such asan exterior mirror assembly.

Remote tire pressure sensors have been developed which sense tirepressure and transmit, such as via a radio frequency link, the tirepressure to a vehicle-based controller. The information regarding tirepressure may be used to control vehicle safety-based devices, such asride and comfort control systems, road-handling systems, brakingsystems, and the like. It is also known to utilize such sensors incombination with tires that can run without inflation in order to warnthe driver that the tire is operating in an emergency mode and should bedriven at a limited speed for a limited distance.

It is known to utilize various gauges and displays in view of thedriver. For example, it is known to place a display of vehicle tirepressure within the interior cabin of the vehicle in view of the driver.This includes displaying the vehicle tire pressure in an interiormirror-based display. Typically, such displays mounted in the interiorcabin provide a read-out of the inflation status of individual tires onthe vehicle, such as an alphanumerical read-out of tire pressure or anicon indicative of tire pressure status. For example, a read-out or anicon indicative of the individual tire pressures at the four wheels onan automobile can be displayed at the reflective element of the interiorrearview mirror assembly. While such displays alert the driver of thevehicle sitting in the interior vehicular cabin when the vehicle isoperating as to the inflation status of individual tires present on thevehicle, they are little to no aid to a driver or other person whileactually pumping air into or bleeding air from an individual tire inresponse to recognition of an undesired tire inflation pressure. Whilepumping air into or bleeding air from a tire mounted on a vehicle (suchas commonly occurs at service stations and the like), a person typicallyuses an air line connected to an air compressor. The air line ismanually connected to an inflation valve provided at the vehicular tire;the person presses the air line to a nipple of the tire valve, and, byso doing, pressurized air is allowed pass through the tire valve, orescape from the tire valve, to inflate or deflate tire pressure to thedesired pressure value. To so do, typically the engine is turned off andthe driver exits the vehicle, and crouches down at a particular wheel ona side of the vehicle in order to adjust the tire pressure at thatparticular wheel. While so doing, the driver typically does not have aview of the vehicle interior, and typically relies on a hand-held tirepressure gauge or on a gauge provided on the air line used for tirepressure adjustment. Thus, even though the vehicle tire may be equippedwith a sensor for measuring the air pressure in the tire, in systemsknown to date, this tire pressure monitoring sensor does not provide areadily readable indication of correct or incorrect tire inflationpressure to the person external to the vehicle who is adjusting the tirepressure in that tire on the vehicle, and especially while that personis in the act of adjusting that tire pressure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a new and useful system that provides anindicator external of the vehicle to indicate the inflation condition ofthe vehicle tires. The present invention provides a readily readableindication of correct or incorrect tire inflation pressure to a personexternal to the vehicle who is adjusting the tire pressure in that tireon the vehicle, and especially while that person is in the act ofadjusting that tire pressure. Preferably, the indicator is positioned atan exterior vehicle portion, such as a vehicle exterior rearview mirrorassembly, where the indicator can be observed by a user inflating ordeflating the vehicle tires located at the vehicle side of that exteriorvehicle portion. However, the present invention may also be used as aconvenient indicator to the driver or passenger entering a vehicle thatone or more of the vehicle tires are in an under-pressure orover-pressure condition.

According to the invention, a tire inflation monitoring system suitablefor use on a vehicle is provided that comprises at least one tireinflation indicator assembly positioned at an exterior vehicle portionat a side of the vehicle and visible exterior the vehicle. The at leastone tire inflation indicator assembly provides an indication of theinflation condition of at least one vehicle tire positioned at that sideof the vehicle, and wherein the tire inflation monitoring systemincludes a control receiving at least one input from at least one tirepressure sensor sensing pressure of the at least one vehicle tire, andthe control producing an output to illuminate the at least one tireinflation indicator assembly in response to a tire pressure condition.

A vehicle exterior rearview mirror system, according to an aspect of theinvention, includes at least one exterior rearview mirror assemblymounted on a side of the vehicle. The exterior rearview mirror assemblyincludes a reflective element and a support for the reflective element.The system further includes a tire inflation monitor including at leastone tire inflation indicator assembly positioned at the exteriorrearview mirror assembly and visible exterior of the vehicle. The atleast one indicator assembly provides an indication of the inflationcondition of at least one of the vehicle tires mounted to wheels of thevehicle on the side of the vehicle to which the exterior mirror assemblyis mounted. The tire inflation monitor includes a control receiving atleast one input from at least one tire pressure sensor sensing pressureof at least one of the vehicle tires. The tire inflation monitor furtherincludes a control producing an output to illuminate the at least onetire inflation indicator assembly.

By providing a tire inflation monitor visible exterior of the vehicle,the present invention provides an indication to a vehicle user at adesirable location that provides a useful assistance to the user, or anattendant, inflating the vehicle tires. This is accomplished byproviding a tire inflation indicator at the exterior rearview mirrorassembly in order to be visible at the vehicle tires. As the vehicletires are inflated from an under-pressure to an operating pressurerange, the indicator provides an indication of this change. Theindicator may also provide an indication when the tires are inflated toan over-inflated condition. The invention also provides a usefulindication as the driver enters the vehicle or exits the vehicle thatattention to the tires is necessary.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of this invention willbecome apparent upon review of the following specification inconjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a vehicle exterior rearview mirror systemequipped with tire pressure indicator assemblies, according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the vehicle in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a vehicle exterior rearview mirrorassembly, according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is the same view as FIG. 3 of an alternative embodiment thereof;

FIG. 5 is the same view as FIG. 3 of an alternative embodiment thereof;

FIG. 6 is an electrical block diagram of a tire inflation monitoringsystem, according to the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating operation of a tire inflation indicatorassembly, according to an aspect of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now specifically to the drawings, and the illustrativeembodiments depicted therein, a vehicle exterior rearview mirror system10 for use with vehicle 12 includes one or more exterior rearview mirrorassemblies 14 and a tire inflation monitoring system 16 (FIGS. 1, 2 and6). Tire inflation monitoring system 16 includes at least one tirepressure indicator assembly 19 positioned at exterior rearview mirrorassembly 14, a control 18, and one or more tire pressure sensors 20,each associated with one of the vehicle tires. Each tire pressure sensor20 is connected wirelessly with control 18 by a wireless communicationlink 22 that, in the illustrated embodiment, is a radio frequency (RF)link. Tire pressure sensor 20 is commercially available from severalsources and conventionally includes a wireless communication link 22with a vehicle controller. Control 18 is an electronic control, and ispreferably a microprocessor-based electronic control, but may,alternatively, be a digital logic controller, an analog controller, orthe like. Preferably, control 18 performs additional vehicle functions.Most preferably, control 18 is interconnected with a vehicle serial bussystem such as of the type disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No.5,959,367, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein byreference.

Exterior rearview mirror assembly 14 includes a reflective element 24and a support 26 supporting the reflective element by vehicle 12 (FIGS.3-5). As is conventional, support 26 includes a fixed portion 28attached to vehicle 12 and a movable portion (not shown) which movablysupports reflective element 24. Preferably, the movable portion is anelectrically controlled actuator of the type disclosed in commonlyassigned patent application Ser. No. 09/228,348, filed Jan. 11, 1999, bySchnell et al., now U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,612, the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated herein by reference. Reflective element 24 may beany of several reflectors such as glass coated on its first or secondsurface with a suitable reflective layer or layers, such as disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 5,179,471, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference, or, preferably, an electro-optic reflectiveelement, and, most preferably, an electrochromic mirror element.However, the invention applies to all forms of reflective element 24.Electrochromic reflective elements 24 may be of any type such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,108 issued to Byker; commonly assignedU.S. Pat. No. 5,668,663 issued to Varaprasad et al.; commonly assignedU.S. Pat. No. 5,724,187 issued to Varaprasad et al; commonly assignedU.S. Pat. No. 6,002,511 issued to Varaprasad et al.; commonly assignedU.S. Pat. No. 5,140,455 issued to Varaprasad et al.; commonly assignedU.S. Pat. No. 5,910,854 issued to Varaprasad et al. and commonlyassigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/429,643 filed Apr. 27,1995, by Varaprasad et al. entitled ELECTROCHROMIC MIRRORS AND DEVICES,now U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,187, the disclosures of which are hereby allincorporated herein by reference. Electrochromic reflective elements 24include electrocbromic units, or cells, that decrease in transmissivityin response to a drive signal applied thereto. Most preferably,reflective element 24 comprises a front substrate and a rear substratewith an electrochromic medium disposed between, such as a solid polymermatrix electrocliromic medium such as is disclosed in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/350,930, filed Jul. 12, 1999, entitled“ELECTROCHROMIC POLYMERIC SOLID FILMS, MANUFACTURING ELECTROCHROMICDEVICES USING SUCH FILMS, AND PROCESSES FOR MAKING SUCH SOLID FILMS ANDDEVICES” to Desaraju V. Varaprasad et al., now U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,306,the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by referenceherein. Most preferably, the front substrate comprises a glass plate ofthickness less than about 1.6 mm, most preferably about 1.1 mm thicknessor lower, and the rear substrate comprises a glass plate of thicknessequal to or greater than about 1.6 mm, more preferably greater thanabout 1.8 mm thickness, most preferably equal to or greater than about2.0 mm thickness. The rearmost surface of the rear substrate (the fourthsurface as known in the mirror art) is reflector coated with a highreflecting metal film such as of aluminum or silver, or an alloy ofaluminum or silver. Most preferably, the frontmost surface of the rearsubstrate (the third surface as known in the mirror art) is reflectorcoated with a high reflecting metal film such as of aluminum or silver,or an alloy of aluminum or silver, optionally overcoated with atransparent electronic conductor coating such as of indium tin oxide orof doped tin oxide.

Exterior rearview mirror assembly 14 may include other elements andfunctions as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,019,475;5,371,659; 5,971,552; and 5,497,306, the disclosures of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference.

Tire inflation indicator assembly 19 preferably generates a pattern oflight P viewable from the location of the tires of the vehicle on theside of the vehicle with which tire pressure sensors 20 are associated.In this manner, a user of the vehicle or an attendant or mechanic mayinflate the vehicle tires while observing the pattern of light Pgenerated by the tire pressure indicator assembly 19. This may beaccomplished by mounting tire inflation indicator assembly 19 to a lowersurface 30 of the portion of exterior rearview mirror assembly 14 thathouses the mirror reflector. In addition to producing a pattern of lightP, which is visible at the tires on the side of the vehicle with whichthe associated tire inflation indicator assembly 19 is located, thepattern of light P preferably will not be substantially visible to thedriver of the vehicle. This avoids any distraction to the driver fromthe tire inflation indicator assembly while the driver is in thevehicle. Furthermore, there is less wind noise below the exteriorrearview mirror assembly 14. Thus, the presence of the tire pressureindicator assembly there does not substantially contribute to wind noisegenerated by the exterior rearview mirror assembly. Furthermore, thebottom portion of exterior rearview mirror assembly 14 is typicallyhollow and provides a convenient attachment point for the tire inflationindicator assembly. Because the exterior mirror assembly protrudesoutwardly from the vehicle body, locating the tire inflation indicatorassembly at the exterior mirror assembly, and especially at a lowerportion of the part of the exterior mirror assembly that houses themirror reflector element, is advantageous. This is because such alocation renders the indicator of the tire inflation indicator assemblyreadily visible to a person positioned at either or both of the frontwheel tire and the rear wheel tire of the vehicle who isinflating/deflating a tire, and especially when the person adjusting thetire pressure is crouched down at a vehicle wheel tire while manuallyadjusting its tire pressure. For example, a tire inflation indicatorassembly that includes a light source, such as a light-emitting diode,can protrude from the underside of the casing part of the exteriormirror assembly that houses the mirror reflector element. Thus, whetherthe user adjusting tire pressure is located at a front wheel tire or arear wheel tire at one of the driver side or the passenger side of thevehicle, the user can see a single indicator of the tire inflationindicator assembly that is positioned below the casing of the exteriormirror assembly on that side, and that preferably protrudes therefrom(for example, as a pendant element), as he or she crouches down at thatparticular wheel tire on that particular vehicle side. It is preferable,for economy, that a single tire inflation indicator assembly be providedon an exterior vehicle portion of a side of the vehicle at a locationvisible to a person inflating either a front wheel tire of that side ora rear wheel tire of that side.

In an alternative embodiment, a tire inflation indicator assembly 19 amay be positioned at fixed portion 28 of support 26. In the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 4, tire inflation indicator assembly 19 a isillustrated on a surface directed rearwardly of vehicle 12 where itwould generate a pattern of light visible at a rear tire of the vehicleon the side of the vehicle on which tire inflation indicator assembly 19a is located. Another tire inflation indicator assembly (not shown) maybe positioned on a forward-facing portion of fixed portion 28, therebybeing visible at the area around the forward tire on the same side ofthe vehicle on which the tire inflation assembly is located.

In another alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, a tireinflation indicator assembly 19 b is positioned with the movable portionof support 26, such as on reflective element 24. Preferably, tireinflation indicator assembly 19 b is positioned behind reflectiveelement 24, thereby protected from environmental elements such as roadsplash, car washes, and the like. This is accomplished by removing aportion of a reflective coating on reflective element 24 such that tireinflation indicator assembly 19 b is viewable through reflective element24 (or by using a semitransparent mirror reflector such a dichroicmirror element such as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,190, theentire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein).Tire inflation indicator assembly 19 b may be joined with reflectiveelement 24 according to the principles disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,416,313 entitled DISPLAY FOR AUTOMATIC REARVIEW MIRROR, the disclosureof which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Other mountings for tire inflation indicator assembly, according to theinvention, may be apparent to the skilled artisan. For example, the tireinflation indicator assembly may be mounted at the sail portion 30 ofexterior rearview member assembly 14 or a portion of vehicle 12 adjacentto exterior rearview mirror assembly 14. Also, the tire inflationindicator assembly can be located at an exterior vehicle portion otherthan at the exterior mirror assembly. For example, a tire inflationindicator assembly can be located at a vehicle body side panel, such asat or part of a side marker assembly, or as part of a door panelassembly. Optionally, a tire inflation indicator assembly can be locatedat each wheel tire location, so that a person inflating or deflating aparticular tire can see the indicator of tire pressure local to theparticular wheel tire being inflated/deflated. Other elements may becombined with the tire inflation indicator assembly. For example, atemperature sensor for sensing the exterior temperature surrounding thevehicle may be positioned in a common housing with the tire inflationindicator assembly. Furthermore, the tire inflation indicator assemblymay be positioned at a side-mounted camera assembly for a rearviewcamera vision system of the type disclosed in commonly assignedInternational Publication WO 96/38319, published Dec. 5, 1996, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Tire inflation indicator system 16 optionally comprises a lockout 33that prevents inadvertent actuation of tire inflation indicatorassemblies 19 during operation of vehicle 12. Such lockouts areconventional and preferably comprise a circuit that is responsive to thevehicle being placed in gear to the vehicle reaching a determined speed(such as at least 5 miles per hour), or to turning an ignition switch tooperate the engine. When the lockout circuit senses that the vehicle isoperating or in a condition to operate, operation of tire inflationindicator assemblies 19 is optionally disabled. Thus, receipt of aninput indicative of operation of the vehicle by tire pressure monitoringcontroller 18 from lockout 33 would disable operation of tire inflationindicator assemblies 19. Thus, and optionally, control 18 processes theinput 32 in order to lock out illumination of tire inflation indicatorassemblies 19 during operation of vehicle 12. This further reduces thelikelihood of the tire inflation monitoring system providing adistraction not only to the driver of vehicle 12 during normal drivingof vehicle 12, but also to operators of vehicles in the vicinity ofvehicle 12. Tire inflation monitoring system 16 may additionally receivean input 34 indicative of the locked state of the vehicle doors.Preferably, control 18 provides outputs to illuminate tire inflationindicator assemblies 19 only when the vehicle doors are in an unlockedstate, which is likely when the tires of the vehicle are being inflated.Most preferably, control 18 is capable of illuminating tire inflationindicator assemblies 19 in response to a sensed tire inflation conditiononly for a predetermined period of time after door lock input 34indicates that the vehicle doors have changed to an unlocked state and,optionally and preferably, after ignition sensing circuit 32 indicatesthat the vehicle ignition is not operating (i.e., the engine is off).This period of time, which is determined by timeout 37, may be less thanor equal to about two hours and, preferably, less than or equal to about30 minutes. Most preferably, this predetermined period of time is lessthan or equal to about 15 minutes. Control 18 may additionally produceoutputs to illuminate tire inflation indicator assemblies 19 in responseto a tire pressure sensor 20 sensing commencement of a manual tirepressure adjust event such as by sensing a change in pressure of itsassociated tire indicative of a user of the vehicle inflating/deflatingthat tire, or sensing depression of the close-out nipple provided in thetire valve stem to allow connection to an air hose/to allow bleed off oftire pressure. In this manner, the tire inflation indicator assembly isilluminated when it is of assistance to the manual inflation of thetires. The tire inflation assembly may stay capable of illuminationafter a given event (such as unlocking a door, opening a door, turningoff the vehicle ignition, detection of an indication of a manual tirepressure adjust event) for a predetermined period of time which, forexample, is less than or equal to about two hours and, preferably, isless than or equal to about 30 minutes and, most preferably, is lessthan or equal to about 15 minutes.

Provision of door lock input 34 and/or ignition sensing circuit 32and/or timeout 37 is advantageous towards ensuring that the tireinflation indicator system 16 remains armed and powered for a sufficienttime period to allow the driver to pull up to a service station toservice tire pressures, but not so that the tire inflation indicatorsystem 16 would remain powered and armed all the time a vehicle isparked (and thus risk depleting the vehicle battery which typicallyoperates at 12 volts nominal). Since sensors 19, controller 18 and otherelectronic elements of system 16 require electric power to operate, andsince when stopped at a service station it is usual and safest to turnoff the vehicle ignition while attending to the tire pressures, tireinflation indicator system 16 typically will operate on vehicle batterypower while the driver is inflating/deflating tires on wheels mounted tothe vehicle, and so system 16 includes a battery depletion protection toobviate running down the battery when the vehicle is normally parked.

Tire inflation indicator system 16 optionally comprises a tire pressureadjust sensor 39 that provides an input to controller 18 alerting that amanual tire pressure adjust event is beginning. Thus, for example, whenthe vehicle is parked, tire inflation indicator system 16 optionallyremains in a quiescent, armed mode (that draws very little current fromthe vehicle battery, with a current draw of less than about 15 milliampspreferred, a current draw of less than about 10 milliamps morepreferred, and a current draw of less than about 5 milliamps mostpreferred). Thus, even when prolonged parked, tire inflation indicatorsystem 16 is powered but active only in a monitoring, low-current state,and with controller 18 monitoring an input from tire pressure adjustsensor 39. When a manual tire pressure adjust event is detected by tirepressure adjust sensor 39 (such as by detection of depression of theclose-off nipple in the valve stem at the particular wheel tire at aside of the vehicle a person is manually inflating from a compressed airline, or by detection of a change in tire pressure indicative of auser-actuated tire inflate/deflate event), controller 18 activates theappropriate tire inflation indicator assembly 19 on that particularvehicle side in order to indicate to the person attending to the tire,who typically is crouching down at the wheel tire, the tire pressurestatus in that particular tire. Since significant current consumption istypically only required by the indicator light sources themselves, useof tire pressure adjust sensor 39 can allow system 16 to be in an armedbut low power state continually and with the vehicle parked and thevehicle ignition turned off so that vehicle battery power alone isprovided to system 16. Once tire pressure adjust sensor 39 detects thatthe tire adjust event is complete and/or timeout 37 times-out, anyillumination of indicator(s) 19 can cease, and system 16 can revert toits quiescent, low current consumption state (and so minimize depletionof vehicle battery charge).

Note also that an interior cabin display of tire pressure status (suchas via a display at a location within the vehicle interior cabin such asat or on the interior rearview mirror assembly) can optionally beprovided as part of system 16, most preferably though only when ignitionsensing circuit 32 indicates that the vehicle ignition is operationaland the engine is running. Thus, when operating the vehicle whiledriving on the highway, or when stopped with the engine running, thedriver can view a display located in the interior cabin that alerts asto tire pressure status at the individual vehicle wheels. When thedriver determines that the tire pressure at a particular wheel needsadjustment, he or she can drive to a service station or the like, stopat an air compressor, preferably (for safety) turn off the engine, andexit the vehicle to manually inflate/deflate the particular tire, whileaided by the tire inflation assistance monitoring system of this presentinvention. Alternately, the driver can remain in the vehicle, and have aservice attendant manually inflate/deflate the particular tire, whileaided by the tire inflation assistance monitoring system of this presentinvention. Provision of the tire inflation assistance monitoring systemof this present invention as an additional feature to an interiorvehicle cabin tire pressure status displaying system is a significantenhancement to such a system, and it can be added economically, giventhat many of the components, such as tire pressure sensors, wirelesstransmission transmitter/receivers and the like, are already existing inthe interior vehicle cabin tire pressure status displaying system.

Tire inflation indicator assembly 19 may include a plurality ofdifferent colored indicators or lamps in order to indicate variousinflation conditions of the tires of vehicle 12. Such indicators can becoded (such as by color coding, intensity coding, frequency of flashcoding, sequence coding, positional coding or the like) in order tosignal to the driver when the tire pressure is below, at, or above thedesired tire pressure. For example, one such indicator may be a greenindicator which indicates that the pressure of the monitored tire ortires is within an acceptable pressure range, such as recommended by themanufacturer of the vehicle. A red indicator may illuminate when thepressure monitored by pressure sensor 20 is less than that recommendedby the vehicle operator. The red indicator may flash when the pressuresensed by a pressure sensor 20 is greater than the range of pressuresrecommended by the vehicle manufacturer. Preferably, tire inflationindicator assembly 19 includes a single color indicator in order toreduce the cost thereof. The single color indicator may, for example, bea green indicator which is illuminated in a steady fashion when thepressure sensed by tire pressure sensor 20 is within an acceptable rangerecommended by the vehicle manufacturer and flashing when outside ofthat range. Preferably, the indicator may flash at a first rate, such asat a relatively slow rate, when the pressure sensed by the pressuresensor 20 is less than the range recommended by the vehicle manufacturerand at a faster rate when the pressure sensed by sensor 20 is above therange recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. This single colorindicator could be in an OFF condition during inflation of the tireuntil the inflation condition reaches the normal operating rangerecommended by the vehicle manufacturer. Other lamp operation protocolsmay suggest themselves to the skilled artisan.

In an embodiment of a tire inflation indicator assembly 19 c, a firstindication 40 is provided in response to pressure sensed by the tirepressure sensor(s) being substantially within a predetermined normalrange (42) (FIG. 7). Indicator assembly 19 c produces a secondindication 44 in response to pressure sensed by the tire pressuresensor(s) being substantially less than the normal range (46). Indicatorassembly 19 c produces a third indication 48 in response to pressuresensed by the tire pressure sensor(s) being substantially greater thanthe normal pressure range (50). Indicator assembly 19 c produces afourth indication 52 in response to pressure sensed by the tire pressuresensor(s) undergoing change that is indicative of the associated tireundergoing inflation (54).

Preferably, tire inflation indicator 19 includes one or morelight-emitting light sources, such as solid-state light emitting diodes(LED), available from numerous sources. Various colors of LED can beused (or combined) such as blue, white, orange, yellow, red, amber andred-orange. Alternatively, the tire inflation indicator may be suppliedas a conventional incandescent light source, a halogen light source, afluorescent light source such as a vacuum fluorescent lamp, a light pipesuch as fiber-optic bundle forming a light pipe, and the like. Mostpreferably, illumination by the tire inflation indicator is achievedusing non-incandescent light sources, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light-emitting material, electroluminescent sources (bothorganic and inorganic), and the like, and most preferably suchnon-incandescent sources are low power and are directed sources, such asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,321 and copending U.S. pat. applicationentitled “INTERIOR MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE INCORPORATING ASOLID-STATE LIGHT SOURCE”, Ser. No. 09/287,926, filed Apr. 7, 1999, nowU.S. Pat. No. 6,139,172, which are incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties, and in such as is disclosed in co-pending andco-assigned U.S. pat. application Ser. No. 09/466,010 filed Dec. 17,1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,420,975, the entire disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference herein, and in co-pending andco-assigned U.S. pat. application Ser. No. 09/449,121 filed Nov. 24,1999 and entitled “Rearview Mirror Assembly With Utility Functions”, byBarry W. Hutzel et al. of Donnelly Corporation, now U.S. Pat. No.6,428,172, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated byreference herein.

The light source of tire inflation indicator assembly 19 can include alens, which may be supplied as a segmented lens, a prismatic lens, or aFresnel lens, which may be clear or tinted, and may be provided oversuch light source.

Other modifications may include providing an input 36 from a vehiclekeyless entry system. Control 18 may respond to input 36 by providingoutputs to illuminate tire inflation indicators 19 upon the useroperating the keyless entry system to unlock the doors. The control 18would preferably illuminate tire inflation indicator assemblies 19 uponactuation of the keyless entry system until the outputs to the tireinflation indicator assemblies are locked out by receiving an input 32indicating that the vehicle is operating and/or until after apredetermined time interval, determined by timeout 37, has elapsed.Although the invention is illustrated in use with an exterior vehicleportion such as exterior rearview mirror assemblies, a tire inflationindicator assembly, according to the invention, could also be positionedwithin the interior cabin of the vehicle, such as at a vehicle interiorrearview mirror assembly 228 (FIG. 1), or at an inner cabin roof portionsuch as a header console 229, or at an instrumentation panel 227, or thelike. However, this is less preferred as an interior cabin portion suchas the interior mirror assembly is not as readily visible to a personinflating a tire mounted on a vehicular wheel (as compared to mountingthe indicator of the tire inflation indicator assembly on an exteriorvehicle portion such as an exterior side view mirror assembly, or at/ona side marker turn indicator, or at/on an exterior side body panel suchas a door panel, wheel well, fender portion or at/on a door handleassembly or the like). Also, the tire inflation indicator assembly canoptionally be provided as part of the vehicle wheel assembly itself. Forexample, the valve provided at the wheel tire to inflate the tire caninclude a tire inflation indicator assembly [such as a non-incandescentlight emitting source such as an electroluminescent source (organic orinorganic) or a light-emitting diode] which has a light emission codedto the inflation status of the tire.

Also, the tire inflation indicator assembly, according to the invention,can be mounted at, or combined with, a light assembly already present onan exterior vehicle portion such as a mirror-mounted turn signal or aside marker turn signal or an exterior mirror-mounted security light.Thus, for example, a side marker turn signal light source present on theside body panel for the purpose of signaling a lane change when a turnsignal stalk in the interior vehicle cabin is actuated can also servethe dual purpose of acting as the tire inflation indicator for the tireinflation indicator assembly, according to the invention, and with theinflation status being indicated to the person inflating a tire on theside of the vehicle on which the side marker turn signal is mounted byflashing the turn signal to a code pattern determined and understood tosignal a below-desired tire pressure state, a desired tire pressurestate, and/or an overly inflated tire pressure state. Likewise, amirror-mounted signal light or a security light, such as are disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,704, the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference herein, can be similarly used fordual-purposes.

Thus, it is seen that the present invention provides a tire inflationmonitoring system which provides a useful adjunct to the inflation ofthe vehicle tires. Because the tire inflation indicator assembly ispositioned at or on an exterior vehicle portion such as a body sidepanel or on an exterior rearview mirror assembly where it is readilyvisible from the area surrounding each of the vehicle tires, itfacilitates rapid adjustment of the inflation condition of the tires,thus increasing the safe operation of the vehicle. Also, preferably, thetire inflation indicator assembly is positioned on the exterior bodyportion at a location readily visible to a person crouching down at awheel tire to inflate.

Furthermore, a tire inflation monitoring system, according to theinvention, provides a useful indication to the vehicle user when theuser is entering or leaving the vehicle that the tire pressure monitoredby each of the tire inflation indicator assemblies is within a range ofpressure as recommended by the manufacturer or outside of that range,thus alerting the user to take action to bring the pressure of the tirewithin the range specified by the manufacturer preferably beforeoperating the vehicle.

Other modifications may suggest themselves to the skilled artisan. Forexample, a single tire inflation indicator assembly 19 may include onecolor indicator for the rear tire on that side of the vehicle and adifferent color indicator for the front tire on that side of thevehicle. Alternatively, one tire inflation indicator assembly may beprovided for indicating the tire inflation condition of the rear tireassembly, and a different tire inflation indicator assembly may indicatethe direct inflation condition of the front tire on that side of thevehicle.

Also, communication between components of the tire inflation assistancemonitoring system of this present invention can be by wire (such as adirect wire connection or via an optical fibre link) or via a bus system(such as a CAN or IN system, as known in the arts) or wirelessly such asby IR or RF communication (such as using a local area RF broadcastnetwork such as the BLUETOOTH protocol from Motorola of Schaumburg,Ill.), such as is disclosed in co-pending and co-assigned U.S. pat.application Ser. No. 09/466,010 filed Dec. 17, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No.6,420,975, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated byreference herein, and in co-pending and co-assigned U.S. pat.application Ser. No. 09/449,121 filed Nov. 24, 1999, and entitled“Rearview Mirror Assembly With Utility Functions”, by Barry W. Hutzel etal. of Donnelly Corporation, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,172, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

The present invention provides a method of assisting manual tireinflation by a person whereby, for example, a driver can pull up to anair compressor station at a service station, turn off the vehicle engineand exit the vehicle, and crouch down at a particular wheel tire toinflate using the air hose provided at the service center. Uponconnecting the air hose to the valve stem of that tire, the driver canview an indicator provided at an exterior vehicle portion such as on theunderside of the casing that houses the exterior mirror reflector in theexterior side view mirror assembly on that side of the vehicle. Uponcommencing the tire pressure adjust event, the driver can view theindicator, whose illumination is coded to indicate the tire pressurestatus (whether it be in an under pressure condition, a correct pressurecondition or an over pressure condition). Guided by the codedillumination of the indicator(s) provided external the vehicle, andwhile still crouched in the act of adjusting tire pressure, the drivercan inflate/deflate that tire's pressure to the recommended, desiredpressure level (a pressure level preferably stored in a memory of thevehicle).

Other changes and modifications in the specifically describedembodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles ofthe invention which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patentlaw including the doctrine of equivalents.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A method of providing atire pressure status of at least one tire of a vehicle to a personexterior of the vehicle, said method comprising: providing at least onetire inflation indicator system having at least one indicator positionedat an exterior vehicle portion at a side of the vehicle and viewable bya person outside the vehicle, said at least one indicator being operableto provide an indication of the inflation condition of at least onevehicle tire to a person at the side of the vehicle; providing at leastone tire pressure sensor operable to sense pressure of the at least onevehicle tire; and illuminating said at least one indicator in responseto said at least one tire pressure sensor to provide an indication oftire pressure status to a person outside the vehicle engaged in a tirepressure adjustment.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least oneindicator is positioned at an exterior rearview mirror assembly of thevehicle.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one indicatoris positioned at an exterior body panel of the vehicle.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said at least one indicator is viewable forward andrearward of said exterior vehicle portion.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein said at least one indicator is positioned at an under surface ofthe exterior vehicle portion.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said atleast one indicator is positioned at a door panel of the vehicle.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said at least one indicator is positioned ata side marker of the vehicle.
 8. The method of claim 1, includingproviding an input to said at least one tire inflation indicator systemwhich is indicative of operation of the vehicle.
 9. The method of claim8 including locking out said at least one indicator to precludeilluminating said at least one indicator during operation of thevehicle.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein illuminating said at leastone indicator includes illuminating said at least one indicator during aparticular period of time after operation of the vehicle isdiscontinued.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said period of time isless than or equal to about two hours.
 12. The method of claim 10,wherein said period of time is less than or equal to about thirtyminutes.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein said period of time is lessthan or equal to about fifteen minutes.
 14. The method of claim 1,wherein illuminating said at least one indicator includes illuminatingsaid at least one indicator in response to said at least one tirepressure sensor sensing a substantial change in tire pressure.
 15. Themethod of claim 1, wherein illuminating said at least one indicatorincludes illuminating said at least one indicator in a first manner inresponse to pressure sensed by said at least one tire pressure sensorbeing substantially within a predetermined normal pressure range. 16.The method of claim 15, wherein illuminating said at least one indicatorincludes illuminating said at least one indicator in a second manner inresponse to pressure sensed by said at least one tire pressure sensorbeing substantially less than said predetermined normal pressure rangeand in a third manner in response to pressure sensed by said at leastone tire pressure sensor being substantially greater than saidpredetermined normal pressure range.
 17. The method of claim 16, whereinilluminating said at least one indicator includes illuminating said atleast on indicator in a fourth manner in response to pressure sensed bysaid at least one tire pressure sensor undergoing a change indicative ofthe associated tire undergoing inflation.
 18. The method of claim 16,wherein illuminating said at least one indicator in said first, secondand third manners is performed with one indication color.
 19. The methodof claim 18, wherein illuminating said at least one indicator in one ofsaid manners is performed by continuously illuminating said oneindication color.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein illuminating saidat least one indicator in another of said manners is performed byflashing said one indication color at a first predetermined rate andilluminating said at least one indicator in another of said manners isperformed by flashing said one indication color at a second higherpredetermined rate.
 21. The method of claim 18, wherein illuminatingsaid at least one indicator in said first manner is performed bycontinuously illuminating said one indication color, illuminating saidat least one indicator in said second manner is performed by flashingsaid one indication color at a first predetermined rate, andilluminating said at least one indicator in said third manner isperformed by flashing said one indication color at a second higherpredetermined rate.
 22. The method of claim 1, wherein illuminating saidat least one indicator includes illuminating said at least one indicatorto produce a pattern of light that does not substantially extend to adriver of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle driver is substantiallyunaware of an illumination of said at least one indicator.
 23. A methodof providing a tire pressure status of at least one tire of a vehicle toa person exterior of the vehicle, said method comprising: providing atleast one tire inflation indicator system having at least one indicatorpositioned at an exterior rearview mirror assembly at a side of thevehicle and viewable from outside the vehicle, said exterior rearviewmirror assembly comprising a reflective element, said at least oneindicator being operable to provide an indication of the inflationcondition of at least one vehicle tire at the side of the vehicle;providing at least one tire pressure sensor operable to sense pressureof the at least vehicle tire; and illuminating said at least oneindicator in response to said at least one tire pressure sensor toprovide an indication of tire pressure status to a person outside thevehicle engaged in a tire pressure adjustment.
 24. The method of claim23, wherein said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprises a supportfor said reflective element.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein saidsupport of said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprises a fixedportion attached to the vehicle and a movable portion.
 26. The method ofclaim 25, wherein said at least one indicator is positioned at one ofsaid fixed portion and said movable portion.
 27. The method of claim 25,wherein said at least one indicator is positioned at said fixed portionand viewable forward and rearward of the at least one exterior rearviewmirror assembly.
 28. The method of claim 25, wherein said at least oneindicator is positioned at an under surface of said fixed portion. 29.The method of claim 25, wherein said at least one indicator ispositioned at said fixed portion adjacent to said reflective element.30. The method of claim 25, wherein said at least one indicator ispositioned at said movable portion and viewable through at least aportion of said reflective element.
 31. The method of claim 30, whereinsaid reflective element comprises a reflectance coating and wherein saidat least one indicator is viewable through a portion of said reflectiveelement where said reflectance coating is at least partially removed.32. The method of claim 23, wherein illuminating said at least oneindicator includes illuminating said at least one indicator to produce apattern of light that does not substantially extend to a driver of thevehicle, wherein the vehicle driver is substantially unaware of anillumination of said at least one indicator.
 33. The method of claim 23,including providing an input to said at least one tire inflationindicator system which is indicative of operation of the vehicle. 34.The method of claim 33, including locking out said at least oneindicator to preclude illuminating said at least one indicator duringoperation of the vehicle.
 35. The method of claim 33, whereinilluminating said at least one indicator includes illuminating said atleast one indicator during a particular period of time after operationof the vehicle is discontinued.
 36. The method of claim 35, wherein saidperiod of time is less than or equal to about two hours.
 37. The methodof claim 35, wherein said period of time is less than or equal to aboutthirty minutes.
 38. The method of claim 35, wherein said period of timeis less than or equal to about fifteen minutes.
 39. The method of claim23, wherein illuminating said at least one indicator includesilluminating said at least one indicator in response to said at leastone tire pressure sensor sensing a substantial change in tire pressure.40. The method of claim 23, wherein illuminating said at least oneindicator includes illuminating said at least one indicator in a firstmanner in response to pressure sensed by said at least one tire pressuresensor being substantially within a predetermined normal pressure range.41. The method of claim 40, wherein illuminating said at least oneindicator includes illuminating said at least one indicator in a secondmanner in response to pressure sensed by said at least one tire pressuresensor being substantially less than said predetermined normal pressurerange and in a third manner in response to pressure sensed by said atleast one tire pressure sensor being substantially greater than saidpredetermined normal pressure range.
 42. The method of claim 41, whereinilluminating said at least one indicator includes illuminating said atleast on indicator in a fourth manner in response to pressure sensed bysaid at least one tire pressure sensor undergoing a change indicative ofthe associated tire undergoing inflation.
 43. The method of claim 41,wherein illuminating said at least one indicator in said first, secondand third manners is performed with one indication color.
 44. The methodof claim 43, wherein illuminating said at least one indicator in one ofsaid manners is performed by continuously illuminating said oneindication color.
 45. The method of claim 44, wherein illuminating saidat least one indicator in another of said manners is performed byflashing said one indication color at a first predetermined rate andilluminating said at least one indicator in another of said manners isperformed by flashing said one indication color at a second higherpredetermined rate.
 46. The method of claim 43, wherein illuminatingsaid at least one indicator in said first manner is performed bycontinuously illuminating said one indication color, illuminating saidat least one indicator in said second manner is performed by flashingsaid one indication color at a first predetermined rate, andilluminating said at least one indicator in said third manner isperformed by flashing said one indication color at a second higherpredetermined rate.